Tamworth

Tamworth's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in average age, family life and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 77,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Tamworth increased by 3.1%, from about 74,500 to 76,800.

The addition of almost 2,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tamworth was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tamworth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tamworth increased by four years, from 35 to 39 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 11% of people in Tamworth are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

This area saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

Across the region, Wyre Forest saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households without children (from 60% in 2001 to 64% in 2011).

During this period, Tamworth fell below four local authority areas, including Walsall and Sandwell, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) households in Tamworth had no children, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 35% to 32%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Tamworth

The number of people in Tamworth from the White ethnic groups increased from about 73,000 in 2001 to just under 75,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tamworth from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 490 in 2001 to about 800 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.1%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 500 to about 760 (from 0.7% to 1.0%).

About 390 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 370 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tamworth remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Tamworth that rented privately increased from 3.9% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in five (19%) households lived in social housing, compared with 21% in 2001. The percentage of Tamworth households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Tamworth increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tamworth, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tamworth working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Tamworth decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tamworth, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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